Rissas Reporting

Rissas Reporting is closing on December 2011

Cami — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:42:43 +0100

Rissas reporting and rissa.cc (established 2005) is closing on December 2011. Thank you for following and commenting of our web-pages! If you still would like to follow basenji Ciara's adventures, then join her open group here Basenji Ciara's Fan Club

Joyful Christmastime!

Cami — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:56:42 +0100

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Ikäluokkansa nopein basenji!

Cami — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:14:19 +0100

Minut yllätettiin eläkepäivilläni onnittelemalla ikäluokkansa nopeimman basenjin tittelillä. Kyllä tätä tilastoa vuonna 2003 syntyneet ratajuoksijoista kelpaa lukea, sillä olen juossut käyttövalioajat sekä lyhyellä (280 m) että pitkällä matkalla (350 metrillä). Huippuni ajoittui ainoastaan ensimmäiseen juoksuvuoteen, sillä seuraavana vuotena olin valeraskaana ja sitä seuraavana vuotena loukkasin varpaani peuranmetsästyksessä parantumattomasti. En silti kadu metsästystempauksiani: kiinniotettujen saaliiden koko (hirvieläimet) ja haastavuus (lokin pyydystys suoraan vauhdikkaasta lennosta) lyö monet tekoviehevarmat juoksijarodut laudalta!

Vuodet vierivät

Cami — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:25:34 +0200

Astuin tänään virallisesti veteraani-ikärajan ylitse ja voin vain ylpeänä esitellä harmaantunutta naamatauluani. Suvussani harmaannutaan keskimäärin aiemmin kuin basenjirodussa on tapana. Toki siitä on hyötyä näyttelyissä veteraaniluokassa, mutta minulle on tärkeämpää se, että muut ihmiset ja koirat osaavat kohdella minua kunnioittavasti. Vietän tänä vuonna synttäreitäni kesämökillämme Kiikalassa (Salon seutu) ihan vain perheen parissa. Painan tällä hetkellä peräti 11 kiloa (normaalipainoni on kuulemma 8 kg, koska olen kevytluinen), mutta kannan kaikki kiloni kunnialla.

Kevättä rinnassa

Cami — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:21:55 +0200

Heräsin vihdoin masentavasta talvihorroksesta, kun aurinko helli meitä melkein +10 asteen lämmöllään ja Mika oli Suomessa vierailulla. Huomasin vihdoin oravatkin ja muutkin jännittävät asiat ympärilläni sekä leikin piiiiitkästä aikaa Ciaran kanssa. Tällaisina päivinä voin laittaa Ärripurrin kaappiin odottamaan matalapainetta ja kaivaa esiin Hurmuriturrin. Tykkäsin jopa vieraista koirista, kunhan ne vain olivat uroksia

Masennus

Cami — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 20:50:13 +0100

Rattoisia eläkepäiviäni on häiritty ikävillä uutisilla. Viime marraskuussa vehreämmät metsästysmaat kutsuivat kaikkien aikojen parhaimman suomalaisen agilitybasenjin Mantun (R.I.P. Amanda). Viime kuussa korviini kantautui tieto toisen lahjakkaan agilitybasenjin Tamun (R.I.P. Bulldobas Tiny Tamu) poislähdöstä. Mantulla alkoi varmasti jo korkea ikä painamaan tassuja, mutta Tamu oli vain 2,5 -vuotta minua vanhempi. Masennuin tuosta ajatuksesta niin kovasti, että päätin purkaa pahaa oloani hampaillani kaikkiin elollisiin alkaen Ciarasta ja Simbasta päättyen Camiin. Viimeksi mainittu ei kuitenkaan suostunut jäämään nuolemaan puremani aiheuttamia haavoja, vaan antoi minulle niin kipeän tukkapöllyn, että menin ihan hämilleni moneksi tunniksi. Jatkossa siis keskityn puremaan vain 10-vuotiasta Simbaa ja 5-vuotiasta Ciaraa, koska niistä ei ole minulle vastusta. Olen yhtä pahasisuinen kuin Ruotsissa asuvat sukulaisenikin. Paikalliset tietävät varoa ja kiertää ne hyvin kaukaa, etteivät tule purruksi.

R.I.P. Faraoland Thunderflash to Ribessita 11.12.2001-16.08.2010

Cami — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:14:16 +0200

Menetin eilen onnettomuudessa ystäväni Flashin. Hänen kanssaan seikkailimme nuorena niin juoksukilpailuissa kuin näyttelyissäkin sekä johdimme veteraaneina tahoillamme laumaamme. Flash halusi näyttää kovikselta ulkopuolisille (ihan kuin minäkin), mutta todellisuudessa hänellä oli suuri sydän. Hän ei koskaan unohtanut ystäviään, vaan lauloi tavatessamme iloisesti, vaikka edellisestä tapaamisesta olisi ollut yli vuosi tai tunti aikaa. Flash oli hyvähermoinen kaveri (toisin kuin minä) ja häneen saattoi aina tiukan paikan tullen luottaa. Flash ei jättänyt koskaan laumaansa eikä ystäviänsä pulaan. Ikävä on suuri! Ehkä tapaamme vielä joskus sateenkaarisillalla....

Hei pitkästä aikaa!

Cami — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:17:32 +0100

Olen saanut viettää rattoisia eläkepäiviä Mikan vanhempien palvomana tähän päivään saakka. Jopa Ciaran saapuminen jouluksi (raskaana tietysti, kun minä en ollut hätistelemässä uroksia pois sen kimpusta!) ei häirinnyt päivärytmiäni. Mutta tänään suoraan petiini tiputettiin pommi! Nimittäin basenjipentu. Säikähdin niin kovasti, että hyppäsin välittömästi pedistäni pois ja tuijotin kauhusta kankeana tuota otusta. Onneksi ex-emäntäni Cami vei pian tuon pienokaisen pois päiväuniani häiritsemästä.

No eipä aikaakaan, niin Cami toi toisen Ciaran pennun kauhisteltavakseni (onko niitä enemmän kuin yksi???). Tällä kertaa en säikähtänyt niin pahasti, vaan haistelin tulokkaan, vaikka edelleenkin vältin tuon pienen rääpäleen nuolaisuja ja muita miellytyskeinoja. Simba-corgi sitä vastoin yritti leikittää pentua huonolla menestyksellä. Voin kyllä kuvitella tuon 4-viikkoisen basenjipennun ajatukset: "Miksi tuolla on noin iso kuono?" "Miksi tuolla on noin isot silmät" "MUTTA MIKSI TUOLLA ON NOIN SUURI SUU - APUA!".

Explanation of Nala's status

Cami — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:25:13 +0200

Nala's breeder was worried about her and raised questions, which maybe others has thought, but not had courage enough to ask directly from us. Here is our answer to Mia from Yulara-kennel:

Ciara's puppy plans has nothing to do with Nala's retirement in Mika's parents home. On the contrary: we hope that Nala will help Ciara with the puppies, because they will born in Mika's parents house in Espoo.

We all (including Ciara) would like very much to have Nala with us in Germany, but the current setting beeing retired to Finland appears to be much better for Nala. The problem is her stress by travelling (car, bus, train or aeroplane - last mentioned would be impossibe) and we travel a lot in Central Europe.

During these years the stress has increased in such a form that it took longer and longer time for her to recover from the travelling stress (even if we used the DAP-collar for her). Fortunately Mika's parents are able to put Nala's needs first so that her transportation will be as minimal as possible nowadays. Nala loves Mika's parents and they love her a lot, and we see Nala couple of times a year for a few weeks!

Nala is in our minds every day and we obtain her statusreports from Mika's mum a couple of times in a week.

Mia answered: It sounds great for Nala and I know she has spent so much time with Simba*

* Simba is a Welsh Corgi Pembroke, born in 3rd January 2001, which we bought for Mika's mum as a gift (of course discussed beforehand about her wishes). As a puppy, Nala believed that 2,5-year older Simba is her father and the people in our neighbourhood asked that if Simba (male dog) is Nala's mother. Does this look like it?

Nala's status report from her new owner in Finnish

Mika — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:16:03 +0200

Heippa!

Nala on oikein hellyttävä: käyttäytyy rakastettavasti ja kuuliaisesti täällä maalla.

Nala on nauttinut vapaudesta maalla ollessa, jopa niin paljon että lähtöä tehdessämme eilen hävisi pitkäksi aikaa teille tietymättömille ja vinkui pitkään kotiin tultaessa. On upeaa katsoa Nalaa kun se voi itse päättää ollako ulkona vai sisällä, sadepisaroita se pakenee heti ulko-ovelle. Ainakaan toistaiseksi eivät tuoreet peuran tai hirven jäljet ole saaneet sitä poistumaan omille teilleen.

Terveisin,

Sirpa

Stitches removed

Mika — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:36:36 +0200

This morning the veterinary removed the stitches and I finally got opportunity to live a normal basenji life again! Unfortunately the weighing machine showed no loss of weight during the 11 days (oops!) Cami took me first to the dog park called Rajasaari and then she drove to a place where we went one round of agility and finally I got opportunity to play with Ciara.

After this operation my owner has been changed from Cami to Mika's mum Sirpa (owner of Simba). I'll stay with them in Espoo Finland to the rest of my life. This means that I am officially retired.

I don't know what will happen to my diary. Maybe I'll send an add that seeking of an assistant to maintain my stories in Nala's Diary.

Finnish Basenji Club Summer Days 2009

Mika — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:44:40 +0200

I was the official mascot ( = symbol of good luck importing) of Summer Days organized by Finnish Basenji Club. My main duty was to keep the young basenjis in the right side of the fence: only one slipped to my side, so I helped to catch him. Cami was timekeeper as well as basenji agility activity organizer and got a bottle of sparkling rose wine as a gratuity from Kirsi Villberg. Thanks!

Surgical removal of anal glands

Mika — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:35:00 +0200

I had a surgical removal of anal glands on Wednesday, due to the chronical (5,5 years!) problems with them. The veterinarian found out a chronic bacteria infection, where antibiotics did not help, so this procedure had no options. The veterinary made excellent work, but the nurses tried to kill me by giving an extra portion of anesthesia, due to the reason that I highly protested when waking up after the surgery. Thanks to nurses wrong action, Cami had to give me 24 hours first aid against mode of poisoning. If I would have been in more athletic condition (that is less fat), my heart would had stopped like it has happened with many basenjis and sighthounds.

Now I have to wear romper pants and have soup diet for 11 days until the stitches are removed on Saturday. I haven't been the easiest patient, but now finally Ciara had to take responsibility and act like a mature dog. The visitors has immediately noticed Ciara's mature behavior, but not my loss of weight (I believe that the weightloss is about 1 kg, because I'm feeling very hungry)!

Lure coursing in Estonia

Mika — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:06:00 +0200

We had a pleasant weekend in Estonia. On Saturday, after Ciara's try on lure coursing, we enjoyed the great sand beach of Laulasmaa SPA in the sunny weather. Then on Sunday it was turn for the great Veteran Lure Coursing Winner -09 competition, where I run with my old pal Flash (Faraoland Thunderflash to Ribessita). As expected Flash won the EST VM-09 title: congratulations my friend! But I surprised everybody by trying to run the whole track until I lost my balance and collapsed to the grass in the middle of the track. I got 15 points (earlier I have always got zero points by interrupting in the start), so this was a great end to my running carrier. Both me and Flash are now retired from all running competitions. Thanks and bye!

Veteran Racing Competition

Mika — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:51:03 +0200

Early on the Sunday morning, we had a veteran racing competition in Tampere. The sun was shining warmly (about 29 C) and we enjoyed the day a lot. I showed a lot of enthusiasm for the race and finally it came our (Bobi, Piitu and me Nala ) turn. Bobi and I had a fast start, but soon I got my normal position: the last one. Though I was very happy when the run was over. My half-brother Bobi became the Veteran Racing Winner 2009. Congratulations!

Sad Days

Mika — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:36:02 +0200

My hostess has been crying for some time now. I asked her about a week ago, what is wrong and she answered: "Matti is very sick. You won't see Matti anymore." I understood immediately what she meant, but Ciara was so stupid that tried to show her new trick of seeking humans or dogs and started seeking Matti from the forest. I just sat beside Cami and let her hug me and sing to my ear: "All my loving I will send to you. All my loving, darling I'll be true". She sang the same song to Matti's ears when she got the opportunity to say farewell to him. Just a couple of minutes ago, we got the message that Matti basenji has moved to the Rainbow Bridges. We will always love you darling!

I was about one year old, when I first met Matti in a sighthound club afternoon arranged for running free in the fenced area. It was love at first sight. The love continued until Ciara came between us last year by vamping Matti's attention totally. Matti has been the most important coach for Ciara, because I was not able to keep in the same speed with those two. I heard that Ciara had a date with Matti two wees ago on island called Linlo. She told me that Matti was in an excellent condition. That's why the news of Matti came as a shock to all of us.

Lack of excercise and competitiveness

Mika — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:11:18 +0200

Cami has been working long days from the beginning of June. That's why we basenjis are suffering lack of exercise during working days. She tries to compensate this on weekends by taking us to the forest for free run. Dogs are not allowed to run without leash in Finland, but the emergency does not follow orders. I definitely agree with that!

The other problem is that Cami is accusing me of transmitting the lack of competition addiction, which has been the driving energy for my hostess before this summer. I have never understood the meaning or aim of competitions, but I think that is not the case here. I just run because and when it is fun! My hostess has started to think that the Finnish competitions (agility, dog shows, lure coursing, track racing etc.) has nothing new to offer for her or us basenjis. She thinks that the experiences from Middle-European and Baltic competitions has changed her perspective from competitive to adventurous. Ciara is adventure-loving, but I prefer familiar places and recurrent routines.

Enjoying the Life in Finland

Mika — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:10:35 +0200

As soon as I turned 6 years (2nd June), I attended to a track racing competition in veteran series on 3rd June. Unfortunately the weather was bad (rainy and cold), so both me and Ciara slipped our paws on the wet grass in the start of the heat. We both underachieved so we won a competition break: Cami tries to better my running technique on wet weather (negative experience) and Ciara's mental strength with positive experiences.

On Sunday there came change of plans: I injured my leg (again!) by playing cat & mouse on wet grass with Ciara. Fortunately the leg has healed quite good thanks to the pause of exercise. What it comes with enjoying the life, relaxation is the best way of it. That is my favorite hobby!

Finland

Mika — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:41:27 +0200

Last Wednesday we said goodbye for the bunny in the Olympic Park and the next day we spent the whole day in a car traveling to the north coast of Germany. The ferry ride went as normal: we slept a lot! Until on Saturday we landed in Finland. Hurray!

On Sunday Cami and Ciara attended to a lure coursing competition and I enjoyed the sun shine at my real home by Mika's parents. Their priorities are in a right position: dogs first!

We opened the track training season in Helsinki on Tuesday in a sunny weather. First Ciara and a 1,5-year young male basenji Moko needed a group start in a good company like me and Lennu (3 year old male). Ciara's time manually taken and it was 24,02 seconds. Then we hurried by car back to Espoo and picked up our dearest brother Bobi with his masters. I had a enjoyable run with Bobi together. My time was 27 seconds - why to hurry, when you are having fun! Bobi will attend to his first veteran series track racing competition on Sunday, but I'll have my first veteran run on Wednesday, when I have turned six years on 2nd June 2009.

Rainy week

Mika — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:34:50 +0200

This whole week has been raining, but that has not bothered me so much. Except on Monday, when I was tired after the weekends journey. By cartoon character Carfields words: "I hate Mondays!".

On Tuesday we had a pleasant visitor, because she brought us dog delicacy: wieners. We made a walk in the English Garden and luckily we met Tsula-basenji there as well. Even if it started raining, we showed our visitor our best tricks: climbing up to the tree. Only basenjis are as good as cats in climbing. The visitor took some photos of us.

On Wednesday we found a real bunny to hunt in the Olympic park. Unfortunately the grass was so high that the bunny got lost too easily. I was so excited the whole day!

On Thursday Mika came back from business journey and we greeted him as always very happily. There is only one problem with his journeys: he usually does not bring goodies for us dogs like Cami does.

Weekend plan: I have planned to send Ciara with Cami to Switzerland and spend some quality time with Mika. Hopefully the weather will improve a bit, so we could visit the Olympic park. I would like to check if the bunny is still there.

Prague and Czech Track Racing

Mika — Sun, 10 May 2009 11:42:30 +0200

This time the 380 km journey went smoothly, so I didn't have to argument it in the car. First time I got so high level service from the hotel staff, that I can recommend every dog citizen the Savoy Hotel in the Centrum of Prague. The staff brought me fresh water, wherever I stopped by: hotel room, bar and restaurant. In addition they had decorated the floor everywhere in the hotel with smooth wall-to-wall carpet, which I appreciated. They even played the piano during our dinner, so that the thunderstorm did not bother us outside. The only one, who got my warning, was one of the bartenders, who was so clumsy that my tail was in danger to be damaged under the dinner table. Fish meal tasted excellent!

Prague offered a lot of enjoyable moments for us dogs: a lot of parks and clean streets. We ate lunch in a restaurant by the Vltava River - the same one, where president Obama ate dinner last month. I was disappointed: no fresh water for us dogs brought by the staff! The lunch was a disappointment as well: I have tasted better chicken.

We drove 55 km north from Prague to the town called Mlada Boleslav, where track racing competition were organized. There were 6 basenjis attending to the competition: four native, me & Ciara. I got an excellent start in the qualifying heat, but ended last. The same thing happened in the finals. I wonder, if the other basenjis know, that they don't have to hurry so much, because the lure will stop anyway in the end and you have time enough to catch it in a moderate speed.

Ciara won the first round but lost the win to the Czech Racing Champion Fable in the finals. Fable is almost as old as I am, but much faster. Congratulations Fable and her owner Kristyna!

Traveling round Middle-Europe

Mika — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:00:28 +0200

In the beginning of the week the journey started from Munich to Zurich, where we met Ruben (again). This time the weather was rainy, so I made everything to get people to understand that I did not want to spend time out of the bed. I behaved like a monster.

In Milan it was wet as well, but warmer than in Zurich. This time Cami understood my needs and we stayed in the bed until noon when Mika arrived and we traveled to Lake Garda. There we had a break with tasty pizza and sun shine, so I thought we would stay there. I was wrong: we continued the trip to the South-Tyrol vineyards, there we tasted plate of cold meat and cheese. My folks tasted some wine and bought some. We did not stay there neither so I continued the loud protest in the car!

Mika decided that it was time to climb up to the mountains, where a good quality wandering hotel waited for us. Mika's plan to get us to the top of the hill and let us run free did not work: dogs not allowed to run free signs everywhere and the lift to the top was closed! The Italians thought we would disturb the life of game animals. They are absolutely wrong: basenjis are the best running trainers for deer!

The next day my loud prays in the car were listened and we stopped in my favorite dog sport hotel in Oberammergau. I was too tired after the four hours shouting in the car to train agility. Luckily Ciara was in better condition, so Cami had more rounds with her than me. Then we had a family sauna where I would have liked to spend the rest of the evening.

Today we made a track racing training in Mammendorf on homeward bound. I showed that I'm not so old veteran runner as my folks think: I ran about 46 seconds the 480 meters track - only 4 seconds slower than Ciara. My condition has increased each week after the paw accident. Soon (actually in the beginning of June) I'm ready to enter the Finnish Track Racing competition in veteran series. Look out there this Veteran Lady!

Friends Around Europe

Mika — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 09:42:39 +0200

You know when you are old, when there are more people that knows you than you can recall. Some knows me only virtually, thanks to my homepages and some discussion forums (the latter mentioned needs always registration). I have been introduced at least in following basenji discussion forums: Finnish, Swedish, German and French Basenjis. Then my hobbies are presented in following forums: local agility club in Finland, Finnish and Estonian Sighthounds.

I need time and free space to become familiar with people and their dogs in a friendly way. When the chance is given, then I have made friends for life. Normally people, who dislikes dogs, fells into love with me. Just because I don't behave like a dog. I'm just too sophisticated for that! Dog people prefer Ciara's company. With dogs I like most of those ones, who behaves educated like me. Small puppies awake my mother instincts, but puppies are not high regarded as friends.

Most of my friends I have only met once, for instance in some dog shows. I have resited in following countries: Sweden (born), Finland (my homeland), Switzerland, Estonia and Germany (presence). Then I have vistited France (track racing), Luxembourg (dog shows), Italy (tourist), Austria (dog shows) and Czech Republic (lure coursing).

Once we have had visitors from the other side of the world (Afrikenji Basenjis - Australia), but most of my friends are located in Europe. There are still some countries, where I would like to meet nose-to-nose basenjis and their owners, but not yet had the opportunity i.e. Italy (my relatives from my dad side), France (track racing competition), Luxembourg (Finnish basenji Rairai) and all the long way to Denmark (just to check, if they speak basenjis).

PS. After my secretary had submitted this text, master Mika made a comment after reading it: "Nala prefers the nose-to-ass method instead of nose-to-nose"

Track Racing Training Started

Mika — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 10:11:00 +0200

We made an unofficial Bayern Basenji Meeting in Mammendorf. All basenjis (four of us) entered for the first racing training in grass track. Tsula showed that a nine year old veteran dog can still be in an excellent condition. I hope I am able to run as good as he in the track after I'm retired from running competitions when I turn eight. Iloua has still some technical trainings to do in order to manage the whole process, but she hasn't started the sport as early as we other basenjis. Unfortunately the coach compared Iloua to Ciara, who has begun to take a professional touch for the running, because they are age-mates.

My second run was faster than the first run, because the second run was a solo. I know that I have an excellent running technique, so I like to show it for those ones, who declares that only whippets are the right breed for running. I have to admit that I was so exhausted after the second run!

Wandering by Lake Tegern

Mika — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:13:37 +0200

Luckily my folks took into account my reluctance with traveling by car. So we made only 55 km trip by car to Lake Tegern. There were about 20 C down in the valley, but about 1 meter snow 200 meters higher from the town in hills - that is 950 meters above sea level. The area was dog friendly from hotels to restaurants. We wandered 10 km in the first day and 15 km in the second day, so that uphill first walking and then downhill running. Our folks used bicycles of their own. I was very tired, when we came home.